U.S. patent number 7,338,035 [Application Number 11/008,550] was granted by the patent office on 2008-03-04 for foundation shock suppressor.
Invention is credited to Chong-Shien Tsai.
United States Patent |
7,338,035 |
Tsai |
March 4, 2008 |
Foundation shock suppressor
Abstract
A shock suppressor has at least two sliding units stacked in an
alternate manner, and each sliding unit consists of a moving base,
a connecting base and at least one rod. The connecting base is
moveably combined with the moving base via the at least one rod. At
least one positioning hole and at least one curved guiding channel
are defined respectively in the connecting base and moving base for
the at least one rod to be mounted respectively in the at least one
positioning hole and to extend moveably into a corresponding one of
the at least one guiding channel. Accordingly, the shock suppressor
can reduce or isolate the transmission of a shock efficiently.
Inventors: |
Tsai; Chong-Shien (Taichung,
TW) |
Family
ID: |
36582894 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/008,550 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2004 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20060125161 A1 |
Jun 15, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
267/136;
52/167.1; 52/167.4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D
27/34 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
E04B
1/98 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;267/136,140.11,140.5
;52/167.1,167.4,167.5 ;248/562,569 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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5812241 |
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Jan 1983 |
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JP |
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960336 |
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Mar 1997 |
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JP |
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11210821 |
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Aug 1999 |
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JP |
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2001227196 |
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Aug 2001 |
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JP |
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Primary Examiner: Burch; Melody M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kamrath; Alan Kamrath &
Associates PA
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shock suppressor comprising: at least two sliding units
stacked in an alternate manner, and each sliding unit comprising a
moving base having a first side, a second side opposite and spaced
from the first side, and a longitudinal recess extending from the
first side towards but spaced from the second side, with the moving
base having cross sections of a U-shape; a connecting base
longitudinally moveably received inside the longitudinal recess of
the moving base; at least one curved guiding channel formed in one
of the moving base and the connecting base, with the at least one
curved guiding channel extending longitudinally and communicating
with the longitudinal recess; at least one rod; and at least one
positioning hole defined in another of the connecting base and the
moving base, with the at least one positioning hole mounting the at
least one rod, with the at least one rod-being mounted in and fully
surrounded by the at least one positioning hole and extending
moveably into and fully surrounded by the at least one curved
guiding channel, with the at least one rod extending perpendicular
to the longitudinal recess, with the connecting base within the
longitudinal recess having cross sections perpendicular to the at
least one rod.
2. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shock
suppressor comprises two sliding units with the sliding units
stacked with each other at an angle.
3. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a
top base and a bottom base attached respectively to the sliding
units.
4. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein the shock
suppressor comprises at least three sliding units and arranged in
two levels including a top level and a lower level; the lower level
comprises at least two of the at least three sliding units and
arranged in parallel with each other in the lower level; and the
top level comprises at least one of the at least three sliding
units and stacked with the sliding units of the lower level at an
angle.
5. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 4 further comprising a
top base and a bottom base attached respectively to the sliding
units of the top level and the lower level.
6. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least
one curved guiding channel in each moving base has a middle portion
and the longitudinal recess is defined in the moving base at the
first side away from the middle portion of the at least one curved
guiding channel; and the at least one rod is rotatably mounted
inside a corresponding one of the at least one positioning hole in
the connecting base, with the at least one curved guiding channel
being spaced from the first and second sides when the connecting
base is received inside the longitudinal recess of the moving base,
with the cross sections of the connecting base being
noncircular.
7. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the at least
one curved guiding channel in each moving base has a middle portion
and the longitudinal recess is defined in the moving base at the
first side away from the middle portion of the at least one curved
guiding channel; and the at least one rod is rotatably mounted
inside a corresponding one of the at least one positioning hole in
the connecting base, with the at least one curved guiding channel
being spaced from the first and second sides when the connecting
base is received inside the longitudinal recess of the moving base,
with the cross sections of the connecting base being
noncircular.
8. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a
shock suppressing element arranged in each sliding unit.
9. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 6 further comprising a
shock suppressing element arranged in each sliding unit.
10. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a
shock suppressing element arranged in each sliding unit.
11. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises two resilient
pads attached respectively to two ends of each one of the at least
one rod and abutting respectively with third and fourth sides of
the moving base, with the third side being opposite from and spaced
from the fourth side, with the third and fourth sides extending
between the first and second sides.
12. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises two resilient
pads attached respectively to two ends of each one of the at least
one rod and abutting respectively with third and fourth sides of
the moving base, with the third side being opposite from and spaced
from the fourth side, with the third and fourth sides extending
between the first and second sides.
13. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and attached to an inner surface of the longitudinal recess
in the moving base.
14. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an inner surface of
the longitudinal recess in the moving base.
15. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an inner surface of
the at least one curved guiding channel in the moving base.
16. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an inner surface of
the at least one curved guiding channel in the moving base.
17. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an outer surface of
each one of the at least one rod.
18. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 10, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an outer surface of
each one of the at least one rod.
19. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 3 further comprising
an adhesive coating and the adhesive coating is attached to each
one of the top base and the bottom base.
20. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 6 further comprising
an adhesive coating and the adhesive coating is attached to at
least one of the top base and the bottom base.
21. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 7 further comprising
an adhesive coating and the adhesive coating is attached to at
least one of the top base and the bottom base.
22. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 9 further comprising
an adhesive coating and the adhesive coating is attached to at
least one of the top base and the bottom base.
23. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 10 further comprising
an adhesive coating and the adhesive coating is attached to at
least one of the top base and the bottom base.
24. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at
least one curved guiding channel in each connecting base has a
middle portion and the longitudinal recess is defined in the moving
base at the first side adjacent to the middle portion of the
guiding channel; and the at least one rod is rotatably mounted
inside a corresponding one of the at least one positioning hole in
the moving base, with the cross sections of the connecting base
being noncircular.
25. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at
least one curved guiding channel in each connecting base has a
middle portion and the longitudinal recess is defined in the moving
base at the first side adjacent to the middle portion of the
guiding channel; and the at least one rod is rotatably mounted
inside a corresponding one of the at least one positioning hole in
the moving base, with the cross sections of the connecting base
being noncircular.
26. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 24 further comprising
a shock suppressing element arranged in each sliding unit.
27. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 25 further comprising
a shock suppressing element arranged in each sliding unit.
28. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 26, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an inner surface of
the longitudinal recess in the moving base.
29. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 27, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an inner surface of
the longitudinal recess in the moving base.
30. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 26, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an inner surface of
the at least one curved guiding channel in the connecting base.
31. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 27, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an inner surface of
the at least one curved guiding channel in the connecting base.
32. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 26, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an outer surface of
each one of the at least one rod.
33. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 27, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises an adhesive
coating and the adhesive coating is attached to an outer surface of
each one of the at least one rod.
34. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 26, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises two resilient
pads attached respectively to two ends of each one of the at least
one rod and abutting respectively with third and fourth sides of
the moving base, with the third side being opposite from and spaced
from the fourth side, with the third and fourth sides extending
between the first and second sides.
35. The shock suppressor as claimed in claim 27, wherein the shock
suppressing element of each sliding unit comprises two resilient
pads attached respectively to two ends of each one of the at least
one rod and abutting respectively with third and fourth sides of
the moving base, with the third side being opposite from and spaced
from the fourth side, with the third and fourth sides extending
between the first and second sides.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a suppressor for a building or
sensitive equipment and, more particularly, to a foundation shock
suppressor that can dissipate seismic shock energy efficiently
2. Description of Related Art
In recent years, the trend for constructing taller and taller
buildings has gathered pace. However, the effect of ground motion
is a very important factor to be considered in the design of a high
building or a skyscraper, from micro-vibrations to catastrophic
earthquakes, such as in Taiwan or Japan. Therefore, shock reduction
is a very important aspect in the construction of a building or a
skyscraper.
In addition, to protect cultural or historical relics, industrial
precision instruments, etc., a shock suppressing device is always
needed. To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends
to provide a foundation shock suppressor to mitigate or obviate the
aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The main objective of the invention is to provide a shock
suppressor that can reduce or isolate the transmission of a shock
efficiently. The shock suppressor has at least two sliding units
stacked in an alternate manner, and each sliding unit comprises a
moving base, a connecting base and at least one rod. The connecting
base is moveably combined with the moving base with the at least
one rod. At least one positioning hole and at least one curved
guiding channel are defined, respectively, in the moving base and
connecting base. The at least one rod is mounted, respectively, in
and is fully surrounded by the at least one positioning hole and
extends moveably into and is fully surrounded by a corresponding
one of the at least one corresponding guiding channel.
Other objectives, advantages and novel features of the invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed description
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a first
embodiment of a foundation shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a second
embodiment of a foundation shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a third
embodiment of a foundation shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a fourth
embodiment of a foundation shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a fifth
embodiment of a foundation shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a sixth
embodiment of a foundation shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a seventh
embodiment of a foundation shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view in partial cross section of an eighth
embodiment of a foundation shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a ninth
embodiment of a foundation shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view in partial cross section of a tenth
embodiment of a foundation shock suppressor in accordance with the
present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a shock suppressor
in accordance with the present invention comprises two sliding
units (10A) stacked with each other at an angle, such as
perpendicular. Each sliding unit (10A) comprises a moving base
(11A), a connecting base (12A) and a rod (16A). The moving base
(11A) has a longitudinal recess (13A) defined in a first side of
the moving base (11A) whereby the cross section of the moving base
(11A) is U-shaped. The moving base (11A) further has a curved
guiding channel (14A) defined through the moving base (11A) and
communicating with the longitudinal recess (13A). The curved
guiding channel (14A) has a middle portion away from the first side
of the moving base (11A) defining the longitudinal recess
(13A).
The connecting base (12A) is moveably combined with the moving base
(11A) via the rod (16A). In a preferred embodiment, the connecting
base (12A) is moveably received in the longitudinal recess (13A) in
the moving base (11A). The connecting base (12A) has a positioning
hole (15A) defined in the connecting base (12A) and corresponding
to the guiding channel (14A) in the moving base (11A). The rod
(16A) is rotatably mounted inside the positioning hole (15A) in the
connecting base (12A) and extends into the guiding channel (14A) in
the moving base (11A), such that the connecting base (12A) is
moveable relative to the moving base (11A).
In the first embodiment, the sliding units (10A) are combined with
each other via the moving bases (11A) at a side away from the
longitudinal recess (13A). In an alternative embodiment, the
connecting base (12A) of the upper sliding unit (10A) is securely
connected with the moving base (11A) of the lower sliding unit
(10A) to combine the sliding units (10A) in a different way.
In addition, a top base (30A) is securely attached to the
connecting base (12A) of the upper sliding unit (10A), and a bottom
base (31A) is securely attached to the connecting base (12A) of the
lower sliding unit (10A). A coating (32A) made of adhesive material
is mounted on at least one or both of the top and bottom bases
(30A, 31A).
The shock suppressor can be mounted between a foundation, such as
the ground and an object, such as a building with the connecting
base (12A) or moving base (11A) of the sliding units (10A) or with
the top and bottom bases (30A,31A). With such a shock suppressor,
the connecting base (12A) of the lower sliding unit (10A) will move
relative to the moving base (11A) when a shock occurs. With the
engagement between the guiding channel (14A) and the rod (16A), the
moving base (11A) will be slightly lifted relative to the
connecting base (12A) but will not move with the connecting base
(12A) while the rod (16A) moves along the curved guiding channel
(14A). Because the sliding units (10A) are stacked with each other
at an angle, a horizontal shock with multiple directions can be
efficiently reduced or dissipated so that the shock will not be
transmitted to the object supported on the shock suppressor. With
the arrangement of the adhesive coatings (32A) on the top and
bottom base (30A,31A), vertical shock can also be efficiently
suppressed.
When the shock has stopped, the rods (16A) will automatically move
to rest again in the middle portion of the curved guiding channels
(14A) due to the weight of the sliding units (10A) and the
supported object, such that the shock suppressor has an automatic
positioning effect to an original status.
With reference to FIG. 2, a second embodiment of a shock suppressor
in accordance with the present invention has a structure the same
as that of the first embodiment except that the sliding units 10B
include a connecting base (12B) having a T-shaped cross section.
The middle portion of the T-shaped connecting base (12B) extends
into the longitudinal recess (13A) in the corresponding moving base
(11A).
With reference to FIG. 3, a third embodiment of a shock suppressor
in accordance with the present invention comprises two sliding
units (10B) combined with each other via the connecting bases
(12B). The moving bases (11A) of the sliding units (10B) are
attached respectively to a top base (30A) and a bottom base (31A)
at a second side far away from the longitudinal recess (13A).
With reference to FIG. 4, a fourth embodiment of a shock suppressor
in accordance with the present invention further comprises a shock
suppressing element arranged in each sliding unit (10A). In the
fourth embodiment, the shock suppressing element comprises a
coating (20) made of adhesive material and attached to an inner
surface of the guiding channel (14A) in the moving base (11A). The
rod (16B) extending into the guiding channel (14A) abuts against
the coating (20) and has a smaller diameter than that of the rod
(16A) as shown in FIG. 1.
With reference to FIG. 5, the shock suppressing element of each
sliding unit (10A) comprises a coating (22) made of adhesive
material and attached to an inner surface of the longitudinal
recess (13A) in the moving base (11A). The connecting base (12C)
extending into the longitudinal recess (13A) abuts against the
coating (22) and has a thickness smaller than that of the
connecting base (12A) shown in FIG. 1.
With reference to FIG. 6, the shock suppressing element of each
sliding unit (10A) comprises two resilient pads (23) attached
respectively to two ends of the rod (16c) and abutting respectively
two sides of the moving base (11A). Two nuts (24) are attached,
respectively, to the ends of the rod (16c) to hold the resilient
pads (23) in place.
With reference to FIG. 7, the shock suppressing element of each
sliding unit (10A) comprises a coating (25) made of adhesive
material and attached to an outer surface of the rod (16d).
Furthermore, the shock suppressing elements as shown in FIGS. 4 to
7 can be applied to the different embodiments of the sliding units
(10B) shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
With reference to FIG. 8, an eighth embodiment of a shock
suppressor in accordance with the present invention comprises three
sliding units (10A,10A,10C) and arranged in two levels including a
top level and a bottom level. The lower level comprises two of the
sliding units (10A) and arranged in parallel with each other, and
the top level comprises a single sliding unit (10C) stacked on the
sliding units (10A) of the lower level and at an angle, preferably
perpendicular.
The sliding unit (10C) of the upper level comprises a moving base
(11B), a connecting base (12C) and two rods (16A). The moving base
(11B) has two curved guiding channels (14A), and the rods (16A) are
attached to the positioning holes (15A) in the connecting base
(12C) and extend, respectively, into the guiding channels (14A) in
the moving base (11B).
Each sliding unit (10A) of the lower level comprises a moving base
(11A), a connecting base (12A) and a rod (16A). The moving base
(11A) has a curved guiding channel (14A), and the rod (16A) is
attached to the positioning hole (15A) in the connecting base (12A)
and extends into the guiding channel (14A) in the moving base
(11A).
A top base (30B) and a bottom base (31B) are attached,
respectively, to the sliding unit (10C) of the upper level and the
sliding units (10A) of the lower level. The top and the bottom
bases (30B,31B), respectively, have a coating (32B) made of
adhesive material to provide a shock suppressing effect in a
vertical direction.
In an alternative embodiment, the moving base (11A) of each sliding
unit (10A) of the lower level has two guiding channels (14A), and
two rods (16A) are attached to two positioning holes (15A) in the
connecting base (12A) and extend respectively into the guiding
channels (14A) in the moving base (11A). In addition, the shock
suppressing elements as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 can also be applied
to the shock suppressor shown in FIG. 8. Furthermore, the upper
level may have two or more sliding units (10C) arranged in
parallel, and the lower level may have three or more sliding units
(10A) arranged in parallel.
With reference to FIG. 9, a ninth embodiment of a shock suppressor
in accordance with the present invention comprises two sliding
units (10D) stacked with each other at an angle. Each sliding unit
(10D) comprises a moving base (11D), a connecting base (12D) and a
rod (16D). The moving base (11D) has a longitudinal recess (13D)
defined in one side of the moving base (11D) whereby the cross
section of the moving base (11D) is U-shaped. The moving base (11D)
further has a positioning hole (15D) communicating with the
longitudinal recess (13D).
The connecting base (12D) is moveably combined with the moving base
(11D) with the rod (16D). In a preferred embodiment, the connecting
base (12D) has a T-shaped cross section. The connecting base (12D)
has a curved guiding channel (14D) defined through the connecting
base (12D) and corresponding to the positioning hole (15D) in the
moving base (11D). The curved guiding channel (14D) has a middle
portion adjacent to the side of the moving base (11D) defining the
longitudinal recess (13D).
The rod (16D) is rotatably mounted inside the positioning hole
(15D) in the moving base (11D) and extends into the guiding channel
(14D) in the connecting base (12D), such that the connecting base
(12D) is moveably combined with the moving base (11D) via the rod
(16D).
With reference to FIG. 10, a tenth embodiment of a shock suppressor
in accordance with the present invention comprises three sliding
units (10D, 10D, 10E) and arranged in two levels including a top
level and a bottom level. The lower level comprises two of the
sliding units (10D) and arranged in parallel with each other, and
the top level is the single sliding unit (10E) stacked on the
sliding units (10D) of the lower level at an angle.
The sliding unit (10E) of the upper level comprises a moving base
(11E), a connecting base (12E) and two rods (16E). The moving base
(11E) has two positioning holes (15E), and the connecting base
(12E) has two curved guiding channels (14E) corresponding,
respectively, to the positioning holes (15E) in the moving base
(11E). The rods (16E) are attached, respectively, to the
positioning holes (15E) in the moving base (11E) and extend,
respectively, into the guiding channels (14E) in the connecting
base (12E).
Each sliding unit (10D) of the lower level comprises a moving base
(11D), a connecting base (12D) and a rod (16D). The moving base
(11D) has a positioning hole (15D), and the connecting base (12D)
has a curved guiding channel (14D) corresponding to the positioning
hole (15D) in the moving base (11D). The rod (16D) is attached to
the positioning hole (15D) in the moving base (11D) and extends
into the guiding channel (14D) in the connecting base (12D). A top
base (30B) and a bottom base (31B) are attached, respectively, to
the sliding unit (10E) of the upper level and the sliding units
(10D) of the lower level.
In an alternative embodiment, the connecting base (12D) of each
sliding unit (10D) of the lower level has two guiding channels
(14D), and two rods (16D) are attached to the moving base (11D) and
extend, respectively, into the guiding channels (14D) in the
connecting base (12D). In addition, the shock suppressing elements
as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 can also be applied to the shock
suppressors shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Furthermore, the upper level
may have two or more sliding units (10E) arranged in parallel, and
the lower level may have three or more sliding units (10D) arranged
in parallel.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present
invention have been set forth in the foregoing description,
together with details of the structure and function of the
invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be
made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and
arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the
full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in
which the appended claims are expressed.
* * * * *